It was an all Scottish clash between Stewart Anderson and Julie Forrest for the afternoon match here at Potters resort on Tuesday 17th and was played out to a packed audience in the International Arena. Scots lady and Internationalist Forrest had qualifed through some tough rounds at Carlisle Indoor Bowls Club to claim her place in the last 32 of the Just 2017 World Indoor Championships. Anderson is seeded at 9 for the event and he had said previously, ” I know that I shall have to be at the top of my game for this match as I respect Julie, she is a great player and not to be taken lightly”.
It was very obvious from the start that Anderson had not forgotton what he said but it was Forrest that took first blood with a triple on the very first end. Then Anderson switched to full mode and no matter what Forrest did it was Anderson that played every shot in the book and that 3 was the last he allowed Forrest to have and the set went 13-3 to Anderson.
Into the second and again it was Forrest with first blood taking a single on the first end and again it was Anderson that kept her at bay taking three singles over the next three ends. The match had to be stopped so that a member of the audience could be removed from the arena due to an illness. On resumption of the match they were allowed two trial ends again just to get back into match readiness and the match recommmenced. Again it was Forrest that took a single and yet again it was Anderson that then climbed to the fore and just did not allow Forrest any more - awesome bowls from Anderson and the match went to Anderson who now faces Graham McKee from Ireland on Wednesday 25th.